FFF05-02 May 6, 2005

Crop conditions: Well what a year itÕs been and the season has just
started.  In many places, apples have developed from silver tip,
through green tip and into pink in a matter of days due to glorious
warm weather, with daytime temperatures in the 60-70 range.  About the
time of full bloom, it turned cooler, and has stayed cool. In the last
2 weeks, crop development has been very slow because of these cooler
temps.  Fruit set may have been slightly affected, but itÕs unlikely
this will have a huge impact on final set.

Freeze Damage to Fruit Crops:  The recent cold events have caused
damage to some fruit crops. Last weekendÕs cold and snow apparently
caused little damage. However, this week we have experienced at least
two nights of frost/freeze conditions. Damage to fruit crops depends on
the stage of development, temperature, and duration of damaging
temperatures. Strawberry flowers will be damaged at 28-30ûF and most
commercial growers use overhead irrigation to protect the crop during
bloom. Dead blossoms are showing up in unprotected plantings.  Grape
shoots are particularly susceptible to temperatures below 30ûF, and in
many areas, slight to moderate damage has occurred. Blueberry blooms
can be damaged by freezing temperatures, but tend to be a bit hardier
than other flowers. Brambles are less prone to frost damage since the
flowers do not emerge for a while after bud break and foliage tends to
be more tolerant of cold. WeÕll know the extent of the damage by the
time the next issue comes out. (Bordelon)

Apogee: If you are going to apply Apogee this year, the time is now!
Apogee is a relatively new growth regulator for use on apples, and can
reduce shoot growth dramatically.  I understand the cost is
significantly reduced this year compared with last year.  Its main
application is likely to be in blocks where there is excessive vigor
due to crop loss, or inappropriate tree spacing / rootstock
combination. Apogee can also reduce the incidence of fire blight Ð it
does this by not affecting the fire blight bacteria directly, but by
reducing the amount of susceptible new shoot growth on the tree.
Timing of application is critical, and if this product is applied after
shoots are about 3Ó long, then it is likely to have little effect.

For best effect, apply Apogee when new shoots are about 1Ó long Ð this
is likely to be around the time of petal fall.  Apogee is not toxic to
bees, so applying this product while there is still open bloom in the
orchard should not pose a problem.  Generally, 1-3 applications can be
applied, with about 10 days between applications.  For high vigor
trees, apply a single application of 10-12 oz/100 gal or 2 applications
of 6-oz/100 gal spaced about 10 days apart.  The 36-48 oz listed in the
spray guide are total amounts of product applied per acre per season,
not the rates per 100 or of each application. Pay particular attention
to the recommendations on the label concerning water conditioners.
Research by Dr. Jim Schupp has shown water conditioners to have a
beneficial effect, whether using hard or soft water. Remember that the
higher rates of Apogee can sometimes increase fruit set; so take this
into account when planning your chemical thinning program. (Hirst)

Apple Thinning:  The thinning decision you make with apples is one of
the most critical management decisions you will make all year, and one
that affects not on the crop this year, but next year also. Thinning is
all about tradeoffs and compromise.  The earlier you thin, the better
the response will be, both in terms of fruit size increase and in
return bloom for next yearÕs crop.  The problem is that early thinning
is risky, so what do you do?  Use the nibble approach where you donÕt
try to get the job done in one shot. Put on a mild thinner application
early (say around petal fall) and then follow up with another
application about 10-14 days later if you think it is needed.  This way
you achieve some of the benefit of early thinning while at the same
time spreading some of your risk.  A few other pointers for thinning: ¥	
Thinners work best when temperatures are 70-80F at the time of
application and for a few days afterwards.  DonÕt apply thinners when
temperatures are below 65 F, as they will have little affect. ¥	Keep
detail notes of what you applied, what rate, when, what the conditions
were at the time of application and for a few days afterwards, and what
the result was.  This will help you build up a picture of what works
best on your farm. ¥	If you suffered some frost damage, think long and
hard before you decide not to thin this year. The risk is that there
may be more crop left than you think, and by not thinning you may be
compromising next years crop as well as the crop this year. ¥	Leave a
few check trees so you can assess what the thinner application did.

With the cool conditions in many parts of the state from the time of
mid-late bloom, it is possible we will have a heavier than usual drop,
but IÕd be surprised if it was dramatically different.  I think it
would be a mistake to back off too much on your thinning because of
this.  Once again, the nibble approach will help spread your risk.
Apply the first application soon after petal fall, then assess the crop
load about 10 days later and apply a follow up application if
necessary.

The best book I know of on thinning is the ÒApple Thinning GuideÓ by
Phil Schwallier at Michigan State University.  It costs about $10 and
is available from Great Lakes Publishing, Phone 1-616-887-9008. (Hirst)

Care of New Trees:  If you planted new trees this spring, a few points
to remember to help them get off to a good start. ¥	Heavy pruning on
young trees delays the time when cropping begins.  So to bring trees
into cropping early, minimal pruning should be done in the early years.
¥	Make sure the graft union is a few inches out of the soil to reduce
the chance of scion rooting. ¥	If planting dwarfing trees, provide a
post or trellis as tree support right from the time of planting. ¥	Pay
attention to weed control. Weeds can severely impact the establishment
of young trees. ¥	If deer are likely to be a problem, apply control
measures from day 1 (deer fence, soap, etc). ¥	Even though trees wonÕt
have fruit the first year, good pest and disease control is essential.

Remember, your goal is not for the trees to just survive (although that
is definitely a good start!), but to have them perform close to the
optimum.  (Hirst)

Several New Brands of Plant Growth Regulators: Fine Americas Inc. of
Walnut Creek, California has entered the plant growth regulator market
for fruit. They are a subsidiary of Fine Holdings Ltd. of Worcester,
UK. They are marketing a cytokinen, 6-benzyladenine for thinning
(exilis Plus¨); a GA3 formulation for cherries called falgro¨; a GA4A7
mixture for reduced russetting in apples called novagib¨; and a GA4A7
plus 6-benzyladenine mixture for improving typiness of apples called
perlan¨. Valent BioSciences Corporation has also released a new
formulation of Provide (gibberellinsA4A7) in the form of water
dispersible granules. Provide¨ 10 SG has a 10% active ingredient and
can be used in a similar fashion as the liquid formulation for
reduction in russetting and cracking of Stayman apples.

We do not have first hand knowledge on how these materials perform in
Pennsylvania since they have not been in any university trials. We
wanted you to be aware of the products. (Rob Crassweller, Penn. State
University)

Update on SINBAR¨ Label: The Sinbar¨ (terbacil) label has been changed.
 Sinbar¨ is now labeled for application on newly planted and young
non-bearing apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot and cherry trees.
Application at rates of 0.5 to 1.0 lb/A may be made once the soil
around newly planted trees has been settled by significant rainfall or
an irrigation. Up to 2 applications can be made per year but do not
exceed 1.0 lb/A per year. Do NOT use on soils that have less than 2%
organic matter. Do NOT use on soils coarser than a sandy loam. (Rob
Crassweller, Penn. State University)

An Old Pest Makes a Comeback: After a number of years of very low
populations, it appears that woolly apple aphids are on the rise. Many
of you loyal readers probably thought this title referred to Paul
Pecknold, but he is still planning to retire. The woolly apple aphid is
one of our easiest insects to identify and monitor, because the white,
waxy fibers that cover them stand out clearly in the orchard, and also
protect the aphids from natural enemies and pesticides.

Woolly apple aphids have different life cycles than our other aphid
pests. Colonies develop on twigs, water sprouts or on wound sites, such
as those caused by pruning, hail, or periodical cicadas. As the number
of aphids feeding aboveground increases, some move down to begin
feeding on the roots.

The root feeding aphids are the most destructive, but there are no
insecticides available that will control the root feeders. Young trees
are most seriously affected by the root feeding aphids. The symptom of
root feeding damage is yellowish foliage. Since there are a lot of
things that cause this symptom, it would be very difficult to determine
for sure that woolly apple aphid is the cause. If you look at the roots
of infested trees, you could expect to see short fibrous roots and
swollen galls. The foliage feeding aphids donÕt have much effect on the
health of the tree, but they do produce honeydew, which results in the
development of black sooty mold.

When scouting for woolly apple aphids, pull away the ÒwoolÓ and make
sure the colonies are still alive. Predators and a parasitic wasp can
kill the aphids and the waxy fibers will remain. Using pyrethroid or
carbamate insecticides will kill many of the natural enemies of woolly
apple aphid and can increase the problem, just like when we kill the
predatory mites and increase our European red mite populations.

There is a good degree of difference in susceptibility of various
rootstocks to woolly apple aphid. Some of the more susceptible
rootstocks include M9, B9, M26, M27, and the P series. M106 and M111
appear to be resistant to woolly apple aphids.

Again, there are no insecticides available for control of the root
feeding aphids. Avoid using pyrethroids and carbamates to conserve the
natural enemies. Some insecticides that would be expected to provide
good to excellent control of the foliage feeding aphids include
Thiodan, Dimethoate, diazinon, and Provado. (Foster)

Fire Blight: The best prevention for fire blight is the application of
streptomycin during bloom. Apply streptomycin just as blossoms begin
opening and repeat every 3-4 days if weather is favorable or blossom
blight infection persists. Streptomycin is most effective when applied
the day before or the day of an infection event.  The ÒMARYBLYTÓ
computer software program will help you in determining if and when an
infection event has occurred as well as predict the risk for future
infection periods.  We strongly recommend its use for those growers at
high risk.  Speaking of high risk, be especially diligent in your fire
blight program if you have blight susceptible varieties (Ida Red,
Jonathan, Gala, Rome, Lodi, etc.) in combination with M-26, M-9 and/or
Mark rootstocks and/or interstems.  These DYNOMITE combinations have
the potential to explode into rootstock blight, which usually means a
dead tree! (Pecknold)

Apple Scab:  The peak period for scab infection is NOW!  Primary scab
spores are ripe and ready to infect, all they need is a good scab rain.
 Are you prepared?  For growers on a curative schedule, or for those
who get caught with their pants down (unprotected), we suggest Nova,
Flint, or Sovran.  These fungicides will provide up to 96 hours
Òcurative activityÓ.  However, the sooner you apply them the better!
Do not sit around thinking there is no need to rush.  NOTE: see
comments below on the Strobilurins. (Pecknold)

Rust Diseases:  Cedar apple and cedar quince rust are now actively
infecting foliage and fruit. Except for the northern areas of the
state, we are now into the peak period for rust infection.  The
sterol-inhibiting fungicides, Nova and Rubigan, are excellent in
preventing rust problems, as well as providing excellent control of
powdery mildew, which is also infecting new leaf tissue, right now!
(Pecknold)

Nova, Rubigan & Tank Mixes:  All Nova or Rubigan applications should be
tank-mixed with a standard protectant fungicide to avoid problems with
resistance to apple scab.  However, it is especially important that
your final spray (petal fall or first cover) of Nova or Rubigan be
combined with a protectant fungicide such as captan, ziram, mancozeb,
or Polyram.  The addition of a protectant fungicide at this time will
help provide protection from summer diseases such as black rot, sooty
blotch and fly speck and also give added protection from fruit scab.
Refer to Rubigan and Nova labels for additional information on tank
mixes. (Pecknold)

The Strobilurins:  The strobilurin fungicides, Sovran and Flint, are
excellent in the control of many diseases.  Unfortunately they are also
very prone to the development of resistance.  We therefore suggest you
consider the use of Flint or Sovran in ONLY the FIRST, THIRD and
SEVENTH cover sprays (three times only) for control of fruit scab and
sooty blotch and flyspeck (SBFS). While the strobilurins are effective
in precover sprays for the control of other diseases, we believe their
real strength lies in the control of fruit scab and sooty blotch and
flyspeck. So lets use them when they will do the most good and
hopefully avoid future resistance problems. (Pecknold)

Early Season Grape Disease and Insect Management:  Phomopsis cane and
leaf spot has been a continuing problem in the region. Control of this
disease is best accomplished with protectant fungicides applied between
one and five inches of shoot growth. Clusters and shoots are vulnerable
as soon as they become exposed. Wet weather conditions during this
period of rapid shoot elongation are ideal conditions for the infection
and spread of Phomopsis. Protectant fungicides must be applied before
an infection period occurs, so applications should be made prior to
expected rainfall. Applications should be made 7 to 14 days apart,
depending on weather conditions. If there are frequent rain events
(several per week, with rainfall totals greater than one inch since the
last spray) then the spray interval should be 7 days. Protectant
materials will protect the shoots and leaves for two weeks if rain
events occur weekly with rainfall totals less than one inch since the
last fungicide application. While Phomopsis is still the primary
concern at this stage of growth, black rot may be an issue in vineyards
that had a problem the previous year. There is an abundance of
succulent tissue that is highly susceptible to infection. In addition,
the clusters are also exposed to infection at this stage. Extended
periods of wet weather are very favorable to most grape diseases. In
general, if the leaves and shoots are wet for eight hours or longer,
infection is possible if not protected by a fungicide.

The fungicides most effective in controlling Phomopsis are also
effective in controlling early season (foliar) black rot. The
broad-spectrum fungicide mancozeb (Dithane, Manzate, Penncozeb and
Manex) is the most effective material for controlling these diseases
early in the season. It is recommended to save the use of SIÕs (e.g.,
Nova and Elite) and strobilurins (e.g., Abound, Sovran, Flint) until
later in the season when they are needed for control of multiple
diseases. Both of these groups of fungicides are prone to resistance
development, so are best used at critical disease control periods
(immediate prebloom until second postbloom). Do not use these materials
more than three times per season regardless of the material. Rotating
these two fungicide groups can help delay the development of
resistance.

Flea beetles and climbing cutworms are occasional problems in
vineyards. Neither of these insect pests are a problem in every
vineyard every year however they can cause significant damage under the
proper set of conditions.  Scouting is the key to pest management, and
especially for these pests, so that you can decide if there is adequate
damage to warrant making a pesticide application. Scout vineyards for
these insects or their damage and control if more than 5% of the buds
have been damaged. Damage from flea beetles appear as holes eaten into
the sides of buds. The insects are small (1/8 inch long) and shiny
green, blue or black in appearance. They crawl quickly along the canes
and tend to drop to the ground if disturbed. Incidence often occurs in
outer rows adjacent to fencerows or woods, making spot spraying an
option. Climbing Cutworms over winter in plant trash on vineyard
floors.  They climb grape trunks on warm spring nights and feed on
swelling buds and early new growth.  After this brief period they are
seldom a problem.  Good weed control helps prevent the occurrence of
cutworms and flea beetles. Sevin will provide excellent control of
these insect pests. See ID-169, 2005 Midwest Commercial Small Fruit &
Grape Spray Guide, (www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/sfg) and the Midwest
Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook (www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~sfgnet/)
for complete discussions of grape IPM. (Bordelon)

Strawberries and Botrytis Fruit Rot:  The most important sprays for
control of Botrytis fruit rot (gray mold) of strawberry are those
applied at bloom - starting at 10% bloom. Topsin M, Elevate, or Switch,
tank mixed with Captan, or CaptEvate (a combination of captan and
Elevate) should provide excellent control of gray mold.  Because of the
potential for development of resistant pathogen strains, none of the
products should be used alone for season long control, nor applied
without captan. See ID-169, 2005 Midwest Commercial Small Fruit & Grape
Spray Guide, (www.hort.purdue.edu/hort/ext/sfg) and the Midwest Small
Fruit Pest Management Handbook (www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~sfgnet/) for
complete discussions of strawberry IPM. (Bordelon)

Eastern Flower Thrips:  One of the factors we believe may be associated
with problems with eastern flower thrips on strawberries is having
sustained, strong southerly winds early in the growing season. Such
winds may blow eastern flower thrips to Indiana from southern areas. We
recommend looking at the early flowers, especially on early varieties.
Although an exact threshold has not been established for Midwest
conditions, data from elsewhere suggest that control is warranted if
counts exceed 2 to 10 thrips per blossom. This is a wide range, but
more precise information is not available. Lorsban or Thiodan are
probably the best choices among conventional insecticides, and Brigade
and Danitol or SpinTor also are likely to work well.  Growers may also
want to consider using an insecticide containing neem extracts (Align
or Neemix) that is less toxic to bees. (Foster and Bordelon)

Second Year of New Agriculture Network Serving Organic and
Transitioning Farmers:  Four universities --Michigan State University,
Purdue University, the University of Illinois, and Iowa State
University -- have joined resources to bring seasonal advice to field
crop and vegetable growers interested in organic agriculture. New
information is posted twice a month during the growing season and less
frequently during winter. Our on-line newsletter features crop updates
from organic growers and articles from university specialists about a
variety of practices and new findings useful for organic growers. The
information serves those interested in transitioning to organic as well
as those currently practicing low- input or organic agriculture.

The first issue of the New Agriculture Network for 2005 was posted
April 28 at: <http://www.ipm.msu.edu/new-ag.htm>

To receive e-mail announcements when future issues are posted, go the
Website above and follow instructions under the ÒGet notificationÉÓ
link.

If you have topics you would like addressed in the newsletter, please
submit them to: newagnet@msu.edu and we will do our best to develop
articles for them.

Indiana producers who would like to receive the newsletter by US mail
may call 219-785-5673 to request delivery.  (Liz Maynard)

Agritourism Opportunities for Indiana Farms & Rural Communities: Purdue
University Extension, the Resource Conservation & Development Office,
Indiana Department of Tourism, Indiana Cooperative Development Center,
and the Indiana Commissioner of AgricultureÕs Office are sponsoring
several day- long workshops on agritourism throughout the state this
summer and fall.

The purpose of this series of day-long sessions is to provide local
agriculture and business development professionals such as Extension
Educators, RC&D staff, tourism professionals and local economic
development staff, an opportunity to learn more about potential
opportunities and related issues in order to assist in the development
of agritourism and related rural enterprises on the farm and in rural
areas throughout Indiana. The workshop series will examine tourism on
the family farm and provide information to farmers/growers and
educators who advise farmers that may be considering an agritourism
enterprise on their farm. The workshop will also:

¥ Assess the potential for success of agritourism as an alternative
on-farm enterprise. ¥ Identify and address potential risks and
liabilities involved. ¥ Identify the components of a successful
business plan and related resources. ¥ Showcase examples of successful
agritourism efforts in the region/state. ¥ Identify needs of
participants as they initiate or expand or agritourism enterprises.

Dates for the upcoming regional workshops are below. Registration for
the June 8th workshop ends June 1st. All registrations should be sent
to Four Rivers RC & D Office.

Four Rivers RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development), 112 South
Lakeside Drive, Petersburg, Indiana 47567-9040; Phone 812-354-6808 ext.
5; Fax 812-354-2785; email: rivers4@sigecom.net

Regional workshops will be held as follows: June 8 2005, Southeast ~
Huber Winery, Historic Hoosier Hills RC&D; June 21, 2005, Northwest ~
County Line Orchard, Northwest Territory RC&D; July 18, 2005, Northeast
~ McClure-Tate Orchard & Apple Dumpling Inn, Wabash and Miami County
CES; August 3, 2005, South Central ~ Freeman Family Farms, Hoosier
Heartland RC&D; August 25, 2005, West Central ~ White Violet Center for
Eco Justice, Sycamore Trails RC&D; September 28, 2005, East Central ~
Ratcliff Tree Farm, Henry County CES

MyPyramid; New Food Guidance System Unveiled: The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) has released its new Food Guidance System, designed
to help Americans understand Òthe vital health benefits of simple and
modest improvements in nutrition, physical activity and lifestyle
behavior,Ó USDA noted.

MyPyramidÕs central message is ÒSteps to a Healthier You.Ó  The new
pyramid has six color bands representing food groups, with the most
nutrient dense foods at the bottom of the pyramid.  ÒThe MyPyramid
symbol, which is deliberately simple, is meant to encourage consumers
to make healthier food choices and to be active every day,Ó said USDA.
There is also an individual component to the new system.  ÒConsumers
can get more in-depth information from the new Web site, MyPyramid.gov,
so that they can make these choices to fit their own needs,Ó said USDA.

Apples can be found with other fruit in the red color band of the
pyramid.  MyPyramid suggests 2 cups of fruits per day for an average
2000-calorie diet. According to USDAÕs MyPyramid, one small apple is
about equal to one cup and a large apple equals approximately two cups.
It suggests eating a variety of fruits, including fresh, frozen,
canned, dried or 100% juice. ÒOf all the dietary advice recommended in
the guide, eating apples may be the easiest to implement in todayÕs
busy lifestyle,Ó said Wendy Davis, director of communications and
consumer health for USApple.  ÒApples are a handy, healthy snack that
can be incorporated into virtually any meal. Either eaten out of hand,
as slices, sauce, or as a glass of cider or juice, apples are a
convenient way to maintain good health and nutrition.  And they taste
great too.Ó

Some questions still surround the new system, but USDA has stated that
additional information is still to come. The department stated it is
looking for partnerships with the health community such as doctors and
dietitians to educate the public on the use of the pyramid.

The release of MyPyramid did generate significant media attention and
USAppleÕs consumer education staff is going to use the announcement to
continue to keep U.S. apples Òtop of mindÓ for American consumers.

For more information, contact Wendy Davis at (703) 442-8850 or email
wdavis@usapple.org (Reprinted from ÒApple NewsÓ, US Apple Association)


PACA - A Valuable Tool for Growers:  Your crop is harvested and ready
to market. Getting to this point hasnÕt been easy, but producing a crop
is only half the job. The rest involves marketing. Too often, however,
growers encounter a myriad of difficulties when selling and marketing
their produce. Some of the more common dilemmas include buyers who
arbitrarily ÒclipÓ invoices-or donÕt pay at all; loads that get
rejected at destination without justification; and sales agents who
donÕt properly account for sales and expenses. Any of these can put
your entire business at risk. But whom can you turn to when problems
like these arise?

The Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) protects growers,
shippers, distributors, and retailers dealing in fresh and frozen
fruits and vegetables by prohibiting unfair and fraudulent trade
practices, and by providing a forum to settle commercial disputes.
PACA is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is
funded by license and complaint fees that are paid by companies that
buy, sell, or broker commercial quantities of fruits and vegetables.

Dispute Resolution: What should you do if you encounter problems
getting payment from a buyer, or believe that you have suffered damages
resulting from unfair trade practices? Your first step should be to
call a PACA representative, who can provide assistance interpreting a
contract term, analyzing an inspection result, or explaining your
rights and responsibilities. Often, timely guidance is sufficient to
avoid any further action. There are times, however, when disputes are
not so easily settled. In those cases, youÕll need to file a claim with
a PACA office.

To file a claim, simply submit a letter to any PACA Branch office
outlining who you are filing against and the nature of your complaint.
Along with your letter, you will need to send copies of any supporting
evidence such as invoices, brokerÕs memoranda of sale, accountings, or
other paperwork. You must file your claim within 9 months of date that
payment became due, or the date that performance of the contract was
required. The cost of filing a claim is only $60.

Once PACA receives your complaint, they will gather the relevant facts
from all parties involved in the dispute and assist in reaching a
settlement. The PACA Branch handles more than 2,000 such cases each
year. We resolve about 75 percent of these claims informally, generally
within 8 weeks. However, if informal settlement is not possible, USDA
will issue a binding decision and order. Although a formal ruling costs
an additional $300, you can recover this fee from the other party, if
you prevail.

Sales Agents: Many growers hire sales agents to sell and market their
crop. PACA requires that agents outline the duties and responsibilities
of both parties in writing before the first lot is received. In
addition, agents must issue you accurate accountings documenting the
sales prices obtained and the expenses deducted from each transaction.
Agents are generally required to submit these accountings in 10-day
intervals throughout the season, and must promptly pay you the net
proceeds due once payment is collected. If you believe your sales agent
has not met its responsibilities, you should speak to a PACA Branch
specialist. If necessary, a PACA Branch representative will audit the
agentÕs records to determine whether any additional proceeds are due.

Mediation Service: Mediation is an effective way to resolve disputes.
It provides an outlet for settling differences outside of the legal
system, where both parties can air their differences in a neutral
atmosphere.  All PACA Branch personnel that handle disputes are trained
in mediation, and can mediate your dispute upon request provided both
parties are agreeable. Mediation sessions can be held face-to- face or
over the telephone. Furthermore, there is no additional cost to mediate
a dispute beyond the initial $60 filing fee.

Trust Protection: PACAÕs dispute resolution and mediation services are
important tools that produce businesses can utilize to resolve disputes
that sometimes occur between trading partners. But what can you do when
a customer owes you money and then goes out of business or files
bankruptcy? The PACA trust provision requires that dealers maintain a
statutory trust on fruits and vegetables received but not yet paid for.
In the case of a business failure, the debtorÕs trust assets are not
available for general distribution to other creditors until all valid
trust claims have been satisfied. Because of this, suppliers that file
for trust protection have a far greater chance of recovering money owed
to them when a buyer goes out of business.

To preserve your trust rights, the PACA requires that you, within 30
days from the payment due date, provide to the debtor a written notice
stating your intent to preserve your trust rights, including in the
notice information about the unpaid transaction. Since specific
information is needed for the notice to be valid, it would wise to call
a PACA Branch office and speak with a representative before you prepare
your notice.  The requirement for providing written notification to the
debtor applies to all who want to preserve trust rights, whether they
are a PACA-licensed firm or an unlicensed grower.

If you have a PACA license, protection is simple by including the
following wording on your invoice: ÒThe perishable agricultural
commodities listed on this invoice are sold subject to the statutory
trust authorized by section 5(c) of the Perishable Agricultural
Commodities Act, 1930 (7 U.S.C. 499e(c). The seller of these
commodities retains a trust claim over these commodities, all
inventories of food or other products derived from these commodities,
and any receivables or proceeds from the sale of these commodities
until full payment is received.Ó The PACA law is here to ensure
fairness and offers many services to assist you.

For more information call the Illinois PACA Branch office
(888-639-0423) or visit their website
http://www.ams.usda.gov/fv/paca.htm (from the PACA Branch of USDA and
reprinted from ÒApple NewsÓ, US Apple Association)

USDA Plans Apple Purchases: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
has announced it will purchase Òup to 78 million pounds of apples and
apple products.Ó ÒThis purchase will provide our federal food program
recipients with tasty and nutritious products,Ó said USDA Secretary
Mike Johanns. This purchase would be in addition to the 52.4 million
pounds of apples and apple products USDA has purchased since the
beginning of the fiscal year. USDA purchased 64.2 million pounds of
apples and apple products in FY 2004 and 83.8 million pounds in FY
2003. USDA will begin seeking bids in the very near future.

A bipartisan group of Senators led by Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Debbie
Stabenow (D-MI) wrote Johanns urging USDA to speed up its purchase of
apples and products. ÒWe urge you to make this issue a high priority
for the good of AmericaÕs children, low-income families, and apple
growers,Ó wrote the Senators.  Joining Santorum and Stabenow on the
letter were Sens. George Allen (R-VA), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Maria
Cantwell (DWA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Susan Collins (R-ME), Larry
Craig (R-ID), Michael Crapo (R-ID), Carl Levin (D-MI), Patty Murray
(DWA), Charles Schumer (D-NY), Arlen Specter (R-PA), John Warner (R-VA)
and Ron Wyden (D-OR). For more information contact Jim Cranney or Diane
Coates at (703) 442-8850.   (Reprinted from ÒApple NewsÓ, US Apple
Association)

Farm Management Tour at Hubers: This yearÕs farm management tour will
focus on a couple of horticulture operations in Clark County and will
include HuberÕs Orchard & Winery and HuberÕs Family Farm & Restaurant.
This tour is sponsored by the Purdue Agricultural Economics Department
and will be held June 28-29, 2005.

Upcoming Meetings:

June 8 Ð Sept 28:  Agri-tourism workshops at various locations around
the state.  See article in this issue of FFF.

June 10:  Workshop, ÒExploring Opportunities in Specialty MarketsÓ. See
article in the last issue of FFF.

June 13:  The Indiana WinegrowersÕ Guild Summer meeting will be held at
French Lick Winery in French Lick. More info later.

June 14:  Blueberry Growers of Indiana meeting this year will be held
at Van Kleys Blueberries. More info later.

June 28-29:  Farm Management Tour at Hubers and other horticultural
operations in Clark Co. sponsored by the Purdue Agricultural Economics
Department. More details to come.

June 30 Ð July 1:  Indiana Horticultural Society summer meeting.  More
details to come.

August 5:  Workshop, ÒExploring Opportunities in Specialty MarketsÓ.
See article in this issue of FFF.